Daily News for Highlands and Cashiers, NC

Macon County has record-breaking voter turnout in midterm election

Macon County followed a statewide trend for the Midterm elections with record-breaking voter turnout. More than 50 percent of Macon County’s registered voters showed up at the polls. 15,463 out of the 26,369 registered voters elected incumbents across the board in all local races within the county.

Sheriff Robert Holland was reelected to a fifth term with 63.13 percent of the votes. Holland’s Democratic challenger Eric Giles received 4,237 votes to Holland’s 9,576.

“I am honored to be elected to another term serving the citizens of Macon County,” said Holland after the election results rolled in.

For the Macon County Board of Commissioners race, incumbent Republican Gary Shields secured 10,108 votes, retaining his seat. Ronnie Beale, the sole Democrat on the Board of Commissioners was reelected with 6,569 votes. Ron Haven received 6,182 and Betty Cloer Wallace received 3,348. The top two vote-getters, Shields and Beale will be re-elected to the board.

Macon County Chairman Jim Tate was also reelected as he ran unopposed on the November ballot.

Both members of the Board of Education on the ballot, Tommy Cabe and Fred Goldsmith, ran unopposed and will retain their seats.

On the state level, Kevin Corbin was elected to his second term representing North Carolina House of Representatives District 120 with an overwhelming 73.45 percent of the vote to Aaron Martin’s 25.55 percent of the votes.

“It is an honor to be reelected to represent you in Raleigh,” said Kevin Corbin. “We have a lot of work left to do and I promise to continue working on your behalf.”

There were six referendums on the ballot. Statewide citizens voted for four of them: Protect the right to hunt and fish got 2,048,235 votes; Strengthening victims rights got 2,228,296; Maximum income tax rate of 7% got 2,06,373; Require photo ID to vote got 2,015,849.